Verona Council Tackles Code Enforcement Issues

Verona officials are working to tackle several code enforcement issues throughout the borough.

Last week, officials discussed a handful of properties that have been troublesome for some time. They agreed to take a Union Street property owner to court and to demolish another property on Parker Street.

Borough code enforcement officer Mark Stanton said the owners of 179/181 Union St., a duplex, have been cited  and found guilty in district court numerous times since 2011 for code violations on the property.

Currently, a tenant lives on one side of the duplex without a permit, and Stanton said he believes one side also does not have pipes.

"We get no compliance," he said. "We've tried every effort to deal with these people."

At Stanton's request, council agreed to file an injunction against the property owners in the Allegheny Court of Common Pleas.

"I don't want to put anyone on the street, but we need to move on this," Councilwoman Peggy Suchevich said. "It's a safety issue."

Stanton said hopefully it doesn't have to get to that point.

"They may wake up and try to comply (before it goes to court)," Stanton said.

Another property in question is located on the 500 block of Parker Street. Officials agreed to move forward with the process to demolish it.

Councilwoman Rhoda Gemellas-Worf said the current property owners obtained it after their parents passed away, and the home has been neglected.

"It's so dilapidated," she said. "It's literally caving in. It's horrific."

Officials also are looking into the condition of the former Gray Goose Restaurant on Allegheny River Boulevard.

Nancy Federici, owner of the Church Bazaar building next door, said she has safety and health concerns because of the former restaurant's condition.

Council had intended to demolish the building last year but put it on hold pending a report from a structural engineer. Further action was not taken.

"I have to do something," Federici said. "I've put so much money into my building, and I feel council should help us. It's a pity because that was such a landmark."

Borough solicitor Craig Alexander said Stanton should go to the former restaurant to look at it.

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